A Tragedy leads to comfort for others

In 2013 the father of a five-year-old boy passed away after a tragic car accident that happened as he headed to work. Given the severity of the incident, his son didn’t get a chance to say good-bye. While his family waited in the hospital’s Critical Care Unit (CCU), the boy’s mother received a rock and small hand-knitted blanket which she gave to him to help bring comfort. Two years later as the family continues to adjust to the absence, this little guy, his mom and grandmother are turning sadness into sunshine, touching others with their kindness by offering comfort as they themselves were comforted. Every year around the anniversary of his dad's death, they plan to pay it forward.

This is their first year and they’ve delivered 200 "comfort bags" with Beanie Babies, shells and rocks from Mexico. They brought them to the CCU and Barbara Bush Children's Unit in Portland and then decided to share their kindness with patients at MaineGeneral, too, where their generosity was extended to residents in our Long Term Care department. Individuals with Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related diagnosis are finding great joy and comfort in their new sidekicks which are the perfect size to hold throughout the day. We are grateful for this example of compassion and awed by the youth that’s inspired it and that will continue to touch many lives in ways he and we will never fully know.